Safety Matters - Rail, Tram and Bus Union of NSW

Risk Assessment
An employer is required to ensure that any activity which is likely to be
a risk to health and safety, is examined and assessed.
SECTION TWO
Safety Matters A Guide for Workplace OHS Representatives
Actions and movements
Actions and movements should not cause undue discomfort or pain. Actions
should be performed smoothly and with control, avoiding sudden or jerky
movements. Manual handling should be performed in a balanced and
comfortable posture. Extreme ranges of joint movement should be avoided,
especially when this is prolonged or repetitive. Repetitive bending, twisting and
overreaching movements are among those liable to increase the risk of manual
handling injuries.
Variation from the above and/or answering YES to any of the following
questions indicates an increased risk:
• Is the load shared unevenly between both hands, or lifted by one hand
only?
• Is the material pushed or pulled across the front of the body?
• Is there a need to bend over to one side to lift and object or exert a force?
• Are two actions performed at the same time when one action is holding an
unsupported fixed position?
• Are several tasks performed in the one position where some are best done in
a seated position and the others are best done in a standing position?
Workplace and Workstation Layout
The positioning of plant and its controls, equipment, tools and other materials
in relation to each other and the employee affects the working posture, working
height, manual handling technique, duration, frequency and other work actions
and movements.
The layout should permit the employee to work in:
• an upright and forward facing posture
• to have good visibility of the task
• to perform the majority of tasks at comfortably without unnecessary bending
or stretching and to have controls and tasks within easy reach
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Monitoring OHS Programs and Procedures
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RAIL
TRAM AND BUS
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